While folks in South Lubbock cleaned up the mess after the weekend’s storm, roofing companies lined the streets, waiting to help.
Experts at the Better Business Bureau warned residents to do their homework, before letting anyone go to work on their property.
“You’ve got water pouring down into your living room, and you want to get it fixed pretty quick, so you just start picking up the phone,” BBB President Greg Linder said. “See who they are where they are, don’t feel pressured to sign on to anything or commit to letting them work on your roof, until you’ve checked them out.”
He said with a city-wide disaster, it might be necessary for out-of-town companies to travel here to help the local resources, but he doesn’t believe Saturday’s storm was that widespread.
“It’s always best to use someone local because you might have a problem later to fix it,” Linder said. “A warranty is only as good as the company who wrote it.”
Ron Hettler with Hettler Insurance agreed, urging people to be wary.
“Insurance companies pay for it once, but if it’s not done right the first time, whoever does the work has to pay for it the second time,” Hettler said.
Hettler said their phone has been ringing off the hook, as people deal with the damage.
“We have to figure out the scope of what happened. You may think, ‘Oh, my roof, but it may be more than your roof,” Hettler said.
He advised residents affected by the weather to turn in their claims as soon as possible.
“Don’t wait. You may think you’re avoiding filing two claims,” Hettler said. “But it makes the process more confusing.”
